Gordon Smith hiking the Camelback (Vortex) trail in southwest Utah. Gordon Smith climbs, hikes, camps in whatever circumstances require to get the right light and create a work of art with photography.

Resurrection Stone
May 2011
This large rock sits out in the middle of Nowhere, Utah. It's barely supported by small legs, but by putting my camera on the ground, I was able to see through the window of it's legs to a massive arch in the distance. This is my favorite photo from 2011.

Low Glow

Tight Squeeze
This shot is taken from Spooky Slot Canyon, in the Escalante Drainage

Living Water
June 2011
I shot this great canyon the last day of the month. Still high water flows because of our heavy (still melting) snowpack this year!

Golden Holes

Tan & Lean

Almost Floating
From the wilderness of Escalante, Utah, this three-legged rock is just barely supported. I cannot see how these small legs hold up the large stone, but they do. There's no trick photography here, just mother nature at her weirdest!

Bryce Turret

River of Sand

I was asked to take some senior portraits by my sister of her daughter. Here she is. My niece was backlight well by the setting sun coming in through a window. I used a fill-in flash to balance the lighting and made this shot.

Gordon Smith photographing Kauai waterfall. This is from Guardian Falls, deeply hidden in the interior of Kauai. This place is also known as the "blue hole" and is a very slippery hike!

Paw Hole Teepees and Figure Shadow
My own shadow graces this photos, a sort of self-portrait in the field.

Upstream
Hiking up Kanarra Creek, we reached this waterfall. This was the fourth or fifth small waterfall during the hike. However, to climb the ladder at its' base, one would have to take a heavy cold shower. Therefore, I took this photo and we turned back. Please enjoy.

Around the Next Curve

Approaching Sunset

Moonrise Arch

Texture and Light

I made the trek to Neon Canyon in search of the aptly named "Golden Cathedral." The "moderate" hike ended up being pretty strenuous in my opinion, about 8 miles in all but over sand, sandstone, cacti, down a cliff, then wading across a moderately flowing Escalante river and then up a slot canyon. Whew!
Temperature at start: 31 degrees. Blister count at end: 1. Was it worth it? Oh yeah! Shot with 24 tilt-shift lens to prevent distortion

Gordon Smith: Self-Portrait in a desert window
Near Melody Arch in the Wave, there is an enormous window in the rock itself. Against the morning light on distant teepees, I sit contemplating the wondrous beauty.